NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7937

Senate Bill S7937

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to a symbol on a driver's license or state-issued ID card indicating that an individual has a non-apparent disability

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 14, 2025	referred to transportation

2025-S7937 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8367
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:: Add §504-a, V & T L

2025-S7937 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Allows individuals to apply to display a symbol on their driver's licenses or state-issued ID cards indicating that the individual has a non-apparent disability to assist law enforcement and emergency personnel in providing appropriate support during interactions.

2025-S7937 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7937

SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to allowing
individuals to apply to display a symbol on their driver's licenses or
state-issued ID cards indicating that the individual has a non-apparent
disability

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

Relates to a symbol on a driver's license or state-issued ID card indi-
cating that an individual has a non-apparent disability.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law by adding a new
section 504-a, which establishes a process for the voluntary disclosure
of non-apparent disabilities on driver's licenses and non-driver ID
cards, and defines "non-apparent disability" & "voluntary disability
indicator."

Section 2 provides that the act shall take effect on the nineteenth day
after it becomes law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill allows individuals with non-apparent disabilities, such as
autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, or other cogni-
tive, neurological, or mental health conditions, to voluntarily request
a symbol on their driver's license or non-driver ID issued by the
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This symbol would discreetly inform
law enforcement or first responders that the individual may require
alternative communication strategies or accommodations during encount-
ers.

Individuals with non-apparent disabilities may face misunderstanding or
adverse outcomes during interactions with police or emergency personnel
due to difficulties with communication, sensory sensitivities, or anxie-
ty responses. These situations can quickly escalate if a person's behav-
ior is misinterpreted as noncompliant or threatening.

This legislation provides a voluntary, person-centered tool to help
de-escalate such situations by discreetly informing authorities that the
person may require a modified approach.. Similar programs have been
implemented in states such as Alabama and Virginia and have been
supported by disability advocacy organizations and law enforcement agen-
cies alike.

Importantly, the bill includes strong privacy safeguards and does not
require individuals to disclose their specific condition. It is a small
but meaningful step toward creating safer, more accessible communities
for New Yorkers with disabilities.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

TBD

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become
law

2025-S7937 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7937
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 14, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. C. RYAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law,  in  relation  to  allowing
   individuals to apply to display a symbol on their driver's licenses or
   state-issued  ID cards indicating that the individual has a non-appar-
   ent disability
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  vehicle  and  traffic law is amended by adding a new
 section 504-a to read as follows:
   § 504-A. VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE OF NON-APPARENT DISABILITY. 1.  FOR  THE
 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A)  "NON-APPARENT  DISABILITY" MEANS A MEDICALLY DOCUMENTED PHYSICAL,
 MENTAL, INTELLECTUAL, OR NEUROLOGICAL  CONDITION  THAT  IS  NOT  READILY
 VISIBLE BUT MAY AFFECT A PERSON'S ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE, RESPOND TO LAW
 ENFORCEMENT COMMANDS, OR OTHERWISE INTERACT IN STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENTS.
   (B)  "VOLUNTARY DISABILITY INDICATOR" MEANS A DISCRETE SYMBOL APPROVED
 BY THE COMMISSIONER TO INDICATE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL  HAS  A  NON-APPARENT
 DISABILITY.
   2.  (A)  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A PROCESS BY WHICH A PERSON,
 OR THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN OF  A  MINOR  OR  DEPENDENT  ADULT,  MAY
 VOLUNTARILY  REQUEST,  THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS, THAT A DISABILITY
 INDICATOR BE PLACED ON THE INDIVIDUAL'S DRIVER'S LICENSE  OR  NON-DRIVER
 IDENTIFICATION CARD.
   (B) THE APPLICATION SHALL INCLUDE:
   (I)  CERTIFICATION  FROM  A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, PSYCHOLOGIST, OR OTHER
 QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AFFIRMING THE PRESENCE OF  A  NON-APPARENT
 DISABILITY; AND
   (II)  A SIGNED AUTHORIZATION BY THE APPLICANT, OR LEGAL GUARDIAN WHERE
 APPLICABLE, TO PLACE THE INDICATOR ON THEIR LICENSE OR NON-DRIVER  IDEN-
 TIFICATION CARD.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11916-01-5

 S. 7937                             2
 
   3. (A) THE DISABILITY INDICATOR SHALL BE A SMALL, DISCREET SYMBOL SUCH
 AS  A  BUTTERFLY,  OR  OTHER SYMBOL DESIGNATED BY THE COMMISSIONER, THAT
 DOES NOT DISCLOSE THE SPECIFIC NATURE OF THE DISABILITY.
   (B) THE PRESENCE OF THE DISABILITY INDICATOR ON A LICENSE OR IDENTIFI-
 CATION  CARD  SHALL NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN TO ASSIST LAW
 ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL  IN  PROVIDING  APPROPRIATE  SUPPORT
 DURING INTERACTIONS.
   (C)  INFORMATION RELATED TO THE DISABILITY SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PRIVACY
 PROTECTIONS UNDER STATE AND FEDERAL LAW,  AND  SHALL  NOT  BE  DISCLOSED
 EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY THE APPLICANT.
   4.  THE  COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH
 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,  SHALL  DEVELOP
 AND  DISSEMINATE  EDUCATIONAL  MATERIALS  FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY
 RESPONDERS, AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE PURPOSE AND USE OF THE DISABIL-
 ITY INDICATOR.
   5. NO ADDITIONAL FEE SHALL BE CHARGED FOR THE INCLUSION OF THE  VOLUN-
 TARY DISABILITY INDICATOR.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

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